This AI Agent Is Ready to Serve, Mid-Phone Call | WIRED

Save StorySave this storySave StorySave this storyDeutsche Telekom, the German mobile provider that is also the majority stakeholder of T-Mobile in the US, is introducing an AI assistant into its phone line. The result of a partnership with the AI-audio company ElevenLabs, the feature is called Magenta AI Call Assistant. It will be available in Germany only, for now, and doesn’t require an app or a specific smartphone. The audible AI assistant will be baked into the phone call, offering services like live language translation to anyone who chooses to opt in.Magenta AI Call Assistant was announced at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona by ElevenLabs cofounder Mati Staniszewski and Abdu Mudesir, executive board member for product and technology at Deutsche Telekom. The Magenta assistant works when one person uses the wake words, “Hey Magenta,” during a call. Then, the assistant can be asked to translate languages live, reference a user’s calendar information to find availability, or use a map service to find nearby places.ElevenLabs is an AI company known for its voice cloning of podcast hosts and US presidents alike. Staniszewski posted about the Magenta service on LinkedIn, highlighting the effort to make the feature available without needing to download an app.Abdu Mudesir, executive board member for product and technology at Deutsche Telekom, unveils the Magenta AI Call Assistant at MWC 2026. Courtesy of Norbert Ittermann/Deutsche Telkom“In a phone call, the assistan...